What Japanese business show format inspired the British TV series Dragons' Den?

The British TV series Dragons' Den was inspired by the Japanese business show format Money Tigers.

Money Tigers originated in Japan and established the central idea of entrepreneurs presenting business proposals to wealthy private investors. The British adaptation retained that core structure while using its own title, presenter, investors and production style.

The format is often discussed alongside Shark Tank because both programmes feature entrepreneurs seeking investment from a panel. Shark Tank is not the source title for the British series, though it is another adaptation of the same broader international format lineage.

This distinction matters because Dragons' Den is not an independently invented British concept. Its pitch-room structure belongs to a format that travelled from Japan into several national television markets.